Rainey Day is the hottest new jewelry designer in NYC and I am so excited to be featuring her gorgeous collection at Artfulwears.com! I was bestowed upon me the exquisite Dripping In Chains Necklace. It is an intricately woven series of copper chains with a suede tie. It’s chic, funky, and rock n’ roll all in one.

What I Love: I am all about unique. This season we are seeing a multitude of layered chain necklaces, however Rainey’s technique of weaving the chains together gives them a bold style that is truly unique. The Dripping In Chains Necklace makes a statement, yet it is very versatile. We love the copper since most other designers are doing gold, silver, or oxidized silver. The suede tie is also a bit of twist. Not only is it pretty and a bit rock ‘n roll, it allows you to adjust the necklace to the perfect length.

What I Am Wearing It With: I happen to have the perfect rock n’ roll inspired dress by Salvage, but truly the Dripping In Chains Necklace can be paired with a great variety of clothing. I paired it with a simple white top and jeans to let the necklace by the center of attention. I love the concept of this necklace being the focal point of an outfit. It’s the perfect accessory to funk up clean basics. It really pops against white but looks great with black as well.

About Rainey Day: In Rainey’s words “Creations originally mine, now uniquely yours…accessories that reinvent creative fashion statements. I have been called the REINVENTION DESIGNER. I create fearless accessories that inspire women to confidently reinvent their own unique fashion statement. I design elegant, sculptural, high-end, limited edition artisan jewelry inspired by exquisite semi-precious stones and unique scarves of the finest silks.”
How To Get Yours: Artfulwears will be featuring a small collection of Rainey Day’s necklaces and bracelets that are inspired by Rock N’ Roll from September 20-27, 2009. Each piece is handmade by Rainey herself and they are truly special.

Set II of Artfulwears month long Rock N’ Roll trunk shows is featuring one of my personal favorite jewelry designers, Annie Hammer. Her pieces are unique, beautiful, edgy, and adorn my body on a very regular basis. From Sunday September 6 to September 13, Artfulwears is featuring an exclusive Rock N’ Roll inspired collection from Annie Hammer.

Annie’s jewelry combines a variety of metals, leather, skins, precious and semi-precious stones, and Swarvoski crystals. Each beautiful detail is well thought out and proportioned. She has a gift for creating fashion forward pieces that are still timeless. By envisioning things in a sculptural form, Annie then translates them into gorgeous pieces of jewelry.

My favorite piece from the trunk show has to be the Heavy Metal Necklace. This multi-chained, layered necklace is truly a statement piece. It can be worn with a great white shirt and jeans or put on with your favorite little black dress. It’s truly a work of art.

Don’t miss out on this great one week even!

Style and comfort reign supreme with the Seashore Dress from Boy Meets Girl! This dress is perfect for running around town, a slightly dressed down evening, and travel. Plus, everyone can always have an extra black dress!

What I Love? While this dress isn’t loaded with details, it is a clean line and modern look. The details it does have are great. The slouchy pockets, hood, and flaired bottom give it a relaxed feel. The pockets have some great pewter grommets to give it some edge. The sleek a-line style is a great shape for most bodies. Combine the a-line shape with black and a scoop neck you have a very slimming style.

What I Am Wearing It With? Given the 32″ length of this dress, I opted for some flat sandals. It’s perfect to pair with some gladiator sandals. I chose silver but you could do any color (think red, bright yellow, blue purple). That is what I adore about black, you can choose any color to accessorize. This dress however would also look great with a cute pair of sport shoes. I think next time I wear it, I am going to pair it with my bright lime green, silver, white, and black Pumas. Since it may be a bit short for some women, it would work really well with leggings. If you don’t already have some, check out the Urd Leggings by Goldencut at Artfulwears.com.

The Basics: The Seashore Dress from Boy Meets Girl is made of a substantial French terry that is 95% cotton/5% spandex. This fabric doesn’t wrinkle so it’s great for travel. It’s 32″ long.

How To Get Yours: Artfulwears will be featuring the Seashore Dress, as well as 4 other great dress from Boy Meets Girl from Sunday June 14 to Sunday June 21, 2009 starting and ending at 7:00 p.m. EST.

The Story Behind Boy Meets Girl: Designer/Creator Stacy Morgenstern Igel has had a clear vision of her career path since nursery school, where she outfitted her pre–K classmates with make–shift designs and home–made charm bracelets. Stacy and I would have gotten along well! Her designs are all about comfortable clothes that make you feel happy and sexy. Inspired by a variety of eclectic influences ranging from unique vintage styles to the cutting edge music and art scenes of downtown NYC, and all the way back to the glamorous Hollywood icons of the roaring 20’s. Boy Meets Girl radiates an effortless lifestyle brand. Boy Meets Girl is for every girl—she can define herself hundreds of ways—as eclectic, as edgy, as demure or as casual cool, or perhaps some combination of them all.

Re-mix is a dream come true for women who love shoes. They are not only beautiful and chic, but mostly importantly they are COMFORTABLE!

I had the pleasure of reviewing the fabulous Veranda Wedge in red and I have lots of great things to tell you about these shoes. Versatility and comfort are key here. They are perfect for a variety of casual occasions including work, dinner, errands, etc. You can easily pair them with a variety of skirts, pants, and dresses. The wedge design gives you so many options. I love the red because it’s fun and a great neutral alternative. Red looks great with almost everything. However, if you are in need of a neutral they are available in brown, black, and sand.

What I Love? Perhaps my favorite thing about the Veranda Wedge is that they are a great alternative to heels. If you have been following my advice, you know that your pants or jeans should hit just above the floor. This means that you may have had your favorite pair of jeans hemmed to wear with heels which is fine if heels are approriate and/or comfortable for your day. For me, that’s not always the case so the Veranda is perfect.

What I Am Wearing Them With? I love them with jeans and a top. For me they would be a perfect shoe to wear for a long day of buying. Believe me ladies, buying trips are murder on the feet. Most recently I paired them with a denim skirt just above the knee and a flirty red crinkle top with white polka dots. They look great with black, white, or denim and a printed tank.

The Basics: The Veranda is an all leather wedge that is about 2 1/2″ high. They are available in Cherry, Black, Sand, or Brown. The contrast stitching adds a little extra interest. The padded foot bed is great for all day wear.

About Re-Mix: Re-mix takes it’s inspiration from the early to mid 20th century.  Many styles are very accurate replicas of styles from those periods.  From the 1920’s on, modern, never before seen fashions were being developed that have now become classics.  The intention of most fashion then was to flatter the wearer and provide function and wearability.  That is why many of my styles have to be seen on to appreciate how good they look (and feel). I saw pictures myself but when I tried them on, it was truly a love affair!

The Re-mix customer is a woman that knows how she wants to look;  fashionable and distinctive and a little “fun”.  She is not a follower.  She wants something that is fairly timeless, not in one season and out the next.  The customer can be urban or “artsy”, but the looks appeals to many women from all over the country in a large age range.  Think  smart, cute, sexy…comfortable.

Other Great Style From Re-mix: The Studio Wedge from Re-mix has a similar place n your wardrobe but a little more “Summery” as it is a strappy sandal. This also has a great wedge to give you height while not causing you high-heel pain. We LOVE the pewter color. It can literally be worn with anything.

The Taxi is a great “heel” that is still very comfortable. It has that timeless vintage feel. We love the combination of metallic leather with patent leather trim.

It’s a special week at Artfulwears, as I have two beautiful dresses to tell you about. Even more beautiful is that they are eco-friendly. Jae Basilio is a beautiful eco-friendly knit line that is modern and contemporary.

If you like short, we have the Trey Shirt Dress. It’s relaxed and comfortable, yet very sexy. If you are into the maxi trend, we have the James Maxi Dress. It’s a colorful and fun but can definitely take you from day to night.

What I love? Both the James Maxi Dress and Trey Shirt Dress have soft and sumptuous knits. They simply feel amazing against your skin. Plus, I personally feel better knowing my skin is not absorbing toxins from my clothing! These dresses are both incredibly versatile.

Mostly every woman I know loves a piece that you can easily take from day to night, like you can with both of these dresses. They would also be GREAT for travel since they don’t wrinkle. Which also means after you wash them (by hand of of course), you don’t have to iron them. Last but certainly not least, the fit of both dresses is fantastic.

What I am wearing them with? The Trey Shirt Dress, looks full on the hanger but is completely sexy on. I paired Trey with a gorgeous pair of multi-color heels, a great layered necklace, and a brown clutch. One of the things I love to do with a solid dress is a print or multi-colored shoe. You could easily pair this with a flat sandal for daytime too. Perhaps you want to take this into Fall, try pairing it with tights and some high-heel boots. I would tend to lean towards dark browns or greys to perhaps tone down the fuschia. If you are looking to dress it up for a more cocktail look, try a hot pair of oversized “diamond” hoops and a some black patent heels. You will not run out of options with this dress. It can be easily reinvented by changing your shoes and accessories.

The James Maxi Dress and I went out completely casual. I did a flat Born black flip-flop and tossed on a cropped denim jacket over top. However, if I was looking to take it for a night on the town, I can see it with my HOT gladiator style purple snakeskin heels or my black Kenneth Cole wrap suede heels. I was pleasantly surprised at how many shoe options I had for this piece. If you want to make it ultra-summery, you can try a white strappy sandal as well. The maxi dress is high-fashion this season so you can’t go wrong. The dress is well designed to accommodate a busty girl and the style is an easy fit.

The Basics: The Trey Shirt Dress is made of 55% silk and 45% cotton. The weight is fabulous and it’s very breathable. I have fuschia but it’s also available in Plum, which I love, and black which is obviously incredibly versatile. The style looks great on a variety of bodies and is generously cut. It hits just above the knee.

The James Maxi Dress is 93% cotton and 7% spun silk, make it uber comfy! Did I really say that? The multi-color stripe fabric has black, white, blue, purple, yellow, red, and grey. Like I said, this gives you a lot of shoe and accessory options. This dress is ankle length but can easily be hemmed to suit your body. You can tie the straps as a halter or simply cinch them and tie them to wear the dress strapless.

How To Get Yours: Artfulwears is having a Jae Basilio Trunk Show from Sunday May 17 to Sunday May 24, 2009. All trunk shows begin and end at 7:00 p.m. Both of these hot dresses as well as as one other great style will be available.

Why Eco-Friendly? Like most people, you probably think cotton is natural and “healthy”. In reality, growing of non-organic cotton is a toxic nightmare. Over one quarter of all the pesticides used in modern agriculture are applied to the cotton plant. So while it maybe comfortable, it’s an environmental nightmare. Not only do these toxins get into our water table they also absorb into your skin!

These pesticides used contain some of the most dangerous compounds known to man, including cyanide. Of the nine major pesticides used on cotton five are proven cancer-causing chemicals and all nine are classified by the EPA as type 1 and 2 – the most dangerous listing possible.

About Jae Basilio: Janet “Jae” Basilio is a gradaute of the Fashion Institute of Design. She brings her west coast style and travel inspirations together to create this chic and modern line of knitwear. Her designs look equally fabulous paired with denim for a casual look or standing alone for a more formal occasion. Launched in 2007, we expect to see a continued array of fabulous garments from Jae Basilio.

The Crash Graffiti Totes by Sobella certainly make a statement! For those of you who don’t know this about me, I am ALL about making a statement. Truth be told, before my Train North/South Tote arrived from Sobella, I wasn’t sure what I would think about it but now that it’s here I am completely in love. I was pleasantly surprised by so many things about this tote, particularly the number compliments I got from the New York City design contingent! They can be a very tough crowd.

What I love? First and foremost, the graphics. These colorful, vibrant, and fun designs are the work of artist John “Crash” Matos. This truly is art to wear. It was not until I touched this bag that I could have envisioned how delightfully soft the canvas would be and how extremely lightweight it too. Most everyone I know is always searching for a lightweight bag and they seem to be hard to find. The Crash Totes are extremely well crafted, as you would expect from an Italian design. What’s even more fabulous is that it works equally well for work and play. There is plenty of room to put a portfolio or file folders inside and still zip it. It’s great for shopping and carring any small purchases with you. While it’s very roomy, it has a slim profile as to not make you feel like you are carrying a huge bulky bag.

The comfort factor for me critical and the big test is a buying trip. I carried it ALL day and found it to be extremely comfortable, even with my portfolio full of paperwork inside. The handle length was perfect and again, I love the weight.

What I am wearing it with? This is important. While this tote can’t be paried with anything in your wardrobe, it’s a great addition to a wardrobe a simple or solid outfit. For my customers who wear all black, I highly recommend a Crash Tote.  It will give some life to your outfit. I love it paired with black and/or white with a splash of color. You have to let Train Tote be the center of attention and not to try and fight with it. I first paired it with white pants, a yellow/gold tank, with a black v-neck long sleeve tee over top. The second time, I added it to a white tank, denim skirt, black belt, and green shiney jacket. It’s a great Summer bag and one you would definitely need to store for Fall/Winter.

The Basics: The Train North/South Tote (as well as all the North/South totes in the Crash collection) is 18″W x 14″H x 8D. The handle is 18″, which I found to be perfect and very comfortable.  It has a sizeable inside zipper compartment, as well as two pockets for cell phone and lipgloss. Isn’t that what everybody puts in their purse pockets? The BIG bonus feature of this bag is that it has a small makeup bag attached inside made of black leather. It’s awesome. The bottom of the bag, trim, and zipper are also all leather. It is extremly well constructed and durable.

About Sobella and the Crash Tote Collection: Based in Arezzo,  Sobella handbags are inspired by the latest fashion trends in Italy;  including a sense of beauty, mystery, and Italian history. They combine functional style and clean lines with exquisite leather or beautifully woven fabrics. The Crash Collection was a collbaoration with world famous graffiti artisit John “Crash” Matos, who’s work  was first noticed through his murals on subway cars and dilapidated buildings.  As he got older he transferred his art to canvas and has now exhibited at museum’s world wide.  In 1996, Crash painted a Signature Stratocaster for Eric Clapton and gave it to the artist as a gift,  which Clapton used through his 2001 tour. In total Crash has created 5 guitar’s for Clapton and was commissioned by Fender Musical Instruments for 50 guitars he titled the “Crashocasters” Today  Crash is not only recognized as a fine artist, he is also regarded  as a pioneer of the Graffiti art movement.

How  To Get Yours: The Graffiti Totes By Sobella will be on sale at Artfulwears.com for one week only: Sunday May 10, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. to Sunday May 17, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

Noah Handbags Trunk May 3, 2009 – May 10, 2009 at Artfulwears.com

So one day an email magically appeared in my inbox from Noah Handbags. Normally, I delete these emails but this one caught my eye because the bags are simply gorgeous. The brand has modern, clean lines, and is very fashion forward but still look timeless. I immediately picked the phone up to call the designer. The rest is history as they say. I had the privilege of trying out the Lasercut Butterfly Clutch. All the photos shown are various angles of the same bag both folded and unfolded in the Aranico (orange) and Bleu.

What I love? The Butterfly Clutch by Noah Handbags is striking! It has very clean lines yet packs a punch. I was torn by which color to choose because they all appealed to me in a different way. However, I went with the Aranico (Orange) because I felt like it really made a statement and would be hot for Summer. While this bag is made of entirely animal friendly materials, it gives the appearance of very polished patent leather. I also love the price. This looks like a VERY expensive designer bag and it’s only $175.00!

The Basics: This clutch is truly the perfect size (15.5″ W x 7.5″ H). You can actually put a reasonable amount of things in it without it looking stuffed or  losing it shape. That is a quality I really adore in a bag. Not on that you can fold it over for the envelope style but you can also hold it by the handle and make it bigger. The inside is almost as fabulous as the outside. It has a pocket for a cell phone and another small pocket I used for lip gloss. Plus, an inside zipper pocket. Basically it has all the big bag features in a nice, compact, sleek design.  For those of you who aren’t fans of orange (this of course boggles my mind), there are several great color choices. My other favorite is the Vetro, which is a pale celadon shade but I would equally love the Chocolate or the Bleu. I think the toughest decision is choosing a color. Made from a Italian PVC material, overlaying canvas and straw.

What I am wearing it with: On the Butterfly Clutch’s first excursion, I paired it with a very simple vanilla colored tee shirt dress that has a very earthy feel and some chocolate brown gladiator sandals. I was so enthralled with the bag that I wanted it to be the center of attention (it was). For it’s next journey, I paired it with a dark denim skirt and orange linen top. However, there are SOOO many more outfits I want to wear it with. Truth be told, I have a secret obsession with orange so there are many choices in many closet. But this looks great with denim as well as all earth tones: chocolate, khaki, ivory, olive. Bonus: This bag works just as well for day as it does for night.

About The Noah Handbags: Noah Handbags is a play on words for “No Animal Harmed”. Designer Joe Donza was confident in launching his new brand that you can in fact have beautiful, high-quality bags without sacrificing the well-being of animals. I would say he has achieved inarguable success! By blending classic silhouettes with modern day twists, bold colors and graphics, the Noah collection has set itself apart from it’s competition. In addition to being animal friendly, Noah is striving to be green as well. Noah is doing all of these things while maintaining moderate prices. The collection features cotton, Italian PVC, and hemp with many additional fibers on the horizon for Donza.
Who else loves them? Ok, I know this sounds repetitive but truly this bag has turned heads everywhere I go. I have been stopped left and right with people asking me where I found my bag. Plus, all my friends are chomping at the bit to get theirs.

How To Get Yours: The Butterfly Clutch, as well as several other gorgeous bags from Noah, will be available at the Noah Handbags Trunk Show at Artfulwears.com starting at 7p.m. on May 3, 2009, for one week only. During the show the bags will be 20% off!

I don’t think there are any other more appropriate words to describe these shoes other than H-O-T! In fact, they are so fantastic I don’t even know where to begin but I can assure you that the Trinity from Klub Nico will be in heavy rotation within my 150+ pairs of shoes.

What I love? The gunmetal color is incredibly versatile and perhaps the biggest selling point of this shoe. While it does have a slightly gold undertone, you can easily pair these shoes with clothing in the gold, silver, or bronze color families. I love how they blend. In addition to the metallic color tones, the Trinity obviously works incredibly well with a variety of colors from coral or green to purple or white. They are equally as versatile as my nude patent leather kitten heels, which were my favorite shoes of the season.

What I am wearing them with? I happened to be the lucky owner of a fantastic gunmetal leather motor cycle jacket from Cino that looks amazing with these shoes. So the jacket has been added to a lot of the looks. I have paired them with a black dress, as well as a denim skirt and two different tops with bronze/gold embellishments. Most recently, I let the shoes be the center of attention with a pair of dark jeans and a white button down top. Truly, these shoes make a statement!

Who else loves them? Whenever I obtain a hot new item, my friends and family always want to check it out but needless to say they don’t all love the same things. Truly, EVERYONE loved these shoes. From young friends to my Mom’s friends (long past the age of collecting social security), they all want a pair. My girlfriends with very basic simple tasted loved them equally to the wild and crazy girls.

The Basics: The Trinity is made of a gunmetal colored leather with a gold tone buckle over the top of the foot and around the ankle, which allows for a more precise fit. However, we all know it’s about how they look. The peep toe is sexy and the braided leather detail on the top finishes off the look. They have a 1/2″ platform with a 4″ stacked wood heel (so a net height of 3 1/2″).

More Details: The Trinity is a really well made, beautiful shoe that is well cushioned and comfortable. I must confess I am not the expert on how comfortable they are for walking for long periods of time since I have a really tough time

walking in heels but I believe these would be a great find for anyone who is used to a 3 1/2″.

About Klub Nico: Klub Nico shoes, celebrating it’s 5th anniversary in June, are designed in northern California by Kelley Lehner. Inspired by Brazilian culture and lifestyle, her shoes are playful, sexy, and ultimately feminine. Texture, color, and unexpected embellishments are at the forefront of Kelley’s designs. Using only the highest quality materials, all of Klub Nico’s shoes are manufactured in Brazil. The brand is focused on designing styles for today’s modern woman who is fashionable, on the go, busy,  and fills a variety of roles on a daily basis. For this woman, Klub Nico delivers great value, comfort,  and versatility. I look forward to my next pair!

How To Get Yours: The Trinity Platform Heel, as well as 6 other gorgeous styles from Klub Nico, will be available at Artfulwears.com from Sunday April 19, 2009 at 7 p.m. EST for exactly one week. As part of this special event, each pair of Klub Nico shoes will be 20% off.